Adebayo Adenrele
Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun has empowered over 200 people in Igbemo Community as part of activities marking this year’s Iyanrigi festival in Iyedi Quarters of the town.
Speaking during the ceremony at Igbemo-Ekiti, Olatunbosun said the empowerment programme was part of his contributions to make people of his community who are mostly farmers to be more productive.
He urged beneficiaries to use the empowerment materials judiciously which include: 20 Petrol -powered irrigation pumps, 200 bottles of herbicides, Fertilizers and other Agro chemicals, N5,000 cash grant to 70 people and 50 School bags containing learning aids to Students.
The Commissioner called on the people to support the transformational efforts of the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, stressing that the shared prosperity agenda of the political dispensation was already having the desired effect on the people and the landscape of the State as more roads across the State were getting the desired attention while more people were gradually being lifted out of poverty through gainful employment.
He urged the people of the community to pray for the success of the present Administration as more empowerment programmes and employment opportunities that would benefit the community were forthcoming.
Olatunbosun who is the Odopetu of Iyedi Quarters explained that the Iyanrigi festival which marks the beginning of the traditional new year in Iyedi Quarters in Igbemo is not an idol worshipping event but a celebration of the rich tradition and culture of the community
He stressed that festival provides a forum for the sons and daughters of the community to gather and pray for the peace of community, the State and the nation and is also characterized by cultural activities including singing of didactic songs that focus on matters of patriotism, peaceful co-existence, acceptable socio-cultural values as well as songs that critique social ills and expose deviant members of society.
Speaking at the ceremony that was attended by prominent politicians including Council Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and councillors as well as Chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress and Community leaders, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Empowerment, Mrs Kemi Olaleye urged members of the community to continue to support the Programmes and policies of the Oyebanji Administration.
The Special Adviser who described Olatunbosun as good ambassador of the community urged beneficiaries of the empowerment to use the grants received to grow their businesses.
In his remarks, the Elemo of Igbemo-Ekiti, High Chief Daramola Tiamiyu who spoke on behalf of the Onigbemo in Council urged the people of the community to be united in the task of developing the community.